CHARACTERISTICS OF VIRUSES

Are Viruses Living or Non-living?

Biologists consider viruses to be non-living because:

Are not cells
Do not grow or respond to their surroundings
Cannot make food, take in food, or produce wastes
Viruses do not respond to stimuli.
They can only multiply if in another living cell

What are Viruses?

Definition Viruses

are noncellular
particles made up of
genetic material and protein
that can invade living cells.

Discovery of Viruses
Beijerinck

(1897)
coined the Latin name
virus meaning poison

Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Wendell

Stanley (1935)
discovered viruses were
made of nucleic acid and
protein

Smallpox
Edward

Jenner (1796)
developed a smallpox
vaccine using milder
cowpox viruses
Smallpox has been
eradicated in the world
today
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How Big is a Virus?

Viruses

are very small smaller than the

smallest cell.

Characteristics
Non

living structures
Non-cellular
Contain a protein coat called the capsid
Have a nucleic acid core containing DNA
or RNA (one or the other - not both)
Capable of reproducing only when inside
a HOST cell

Characteristics

CAPSID

Some

DNA

viruses are
enclosed in an protective
envelope
Some viruses may have
spikes to help attach to
the host cell
Most viruses infect only
SPECIFIC host cells ENVELOPE
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SPIKES

HIV VIRUS

EBOLA VIRUS

Characteristics

Outside

of host cells,
viruses are inactive
Viruses

cause many
common illnesses/
diseases
Some

viruses may
cause some cancers
10 like leukemia

MEASLES

Characteristics
Viruses

diseases

cause many common illnesses

Some

viruses may cause some

cancers like leukemia

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MEASLES

What do Viruses look like?

Viruses are unusual and different from other things in

nature.
Viruses come in a variety of shapes

Some

may be helical shape like the Ebola virus

Some may be polyhedral shapes like the influenza virus
Others have more complex shapes like bacteriophages

Types of Viruses:

Helical Viruses

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Polyhedral Viruses

14

Complex Viruses

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Viral Taxonomy
Family

names end in -viridae

Genus names end in -virus
Viral species: A group of viruses
sharing the same genetic information
and ecological niche (host).
Common names are used for species
Subspecies are designated by a number
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Used for Virus

Identification
Morophology

RNA or DNA Virus

Do or do NOT have an envelope
Capsid shape
HOST they infect

17

Herpes Virus

SIMPLEX I and II

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Adenovirus

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COMMON COLD

Influenza Virus

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Chickenpox Virus

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Papillomavirus Warts!

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HOST SPECIFICITY

All kingdoms can be infected by viruses

Viruses are kingdom specific but they may or may

not be species specific

Spread is specific to the type of virus

PARASITISM
Viruses

are parasites.

A parasite is an organism that depends upon

another living organism for its existence in
such a way that it harms that organism.

Bacteriophages

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Cylces
Lysogenic

Viral DNA
May stay inactive in host for long periods of time
Long lasting
Example Mono or chickenpox

Lytic

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Cycle

Cylce

Short and can be over come

Example flu virus

Vaccine
Is

a weaken form of the virus

To expose your immune system to the virus which
will allow your body to better fight off the virus when
exposed to the full blow virus.

Vector Control
This

is controlling the vectors that are

carrying the virus.
Examples:

We stay home when sick, cover our mouth when

we cough etc.
We control the mosquito population in order to
control the West Nile virus

Other Drug Treatments

Specific

viruses.

to certain

They

dont cure the

virus but they can slow
down and inhibit the
multiplication of the virus.
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Reducing the Risk

They cant be treated but they can
be prevented!
Cover

mouth/nose when you sneeze of

cough
Wash hands frequently
Avoid contact with the body fluids
Not foolproof but reduces the risks